Queen present.

Her Majesty, being seated on Her Royal Throne,
adorned with Her Crown and Regal Ornaments, attended with Her Officers of State (the Peers being in their
Robes), commanded the Deputy Gentleman Usher of
the Black Rod to let the Commons know, "It is Her
"Majesty's Pleasure, that they attend Her presently,
in the House of Peers."

Smith, Speaker of H. C. presented.

Who being come; they presented the Right Honourable John Smith Esquire, whom they had chosen to be
their Speaker, for Her Majesty's Royal Approbation.

And, after a short Speech made by him to Her Majesty, desiring Her Majesty to excuse him from that
Service;

The Lord Keeper, by Her Majesty's Command, acquainted the House of Commons, "That Her Majesty
was pleased to approve of the Choice they had made;
and did allow of and confirm Mr. Smith to be their
Speaker."

Then Mr. Speaker returned Her Majesty Thanks, for
Her gracious Approbation of the Choice and Acceptance of his Service; and humbly prayed, in the Name
of the Commons, "That Her Majesty would be graciously pleased to allow, and confirm, all their ancient
Rights and Privileges; particularly,

"That they might have Liberty and Freedom of
Speech in all their Debates:

"That their Persons, Estates, and Servants be free
from Arrests and Troubles:

"That they may have Access to Her Royal Person,
as Occasion shall require:

"That Her Majesty would have a gracious Opinion
of all their Actions:

"And that, if himself at any Time should mistake,
he might have Her Majesty's favourable Interpretation and gracious Pardon."

Then the Lord Keeper, by Her Majesty's further
Command, said,

"Mr. Speaker,

"Her Majesty is pleased to say, That, She being
fully assured of the Discretion and Temper, as well
as of the good Affections, of Her House of Commons;
as to the Suit which you have made in their Name,
Her Majesty does most willingly grant to them all
their Privileges, in as full a Manner as they were at
any Time granted or allowed by any of Her Royal
Predecessors: And as to what you have prayed in relation to yourself; Her Majesty will put the best and
most favourable Construction upon your Words and
Actions, in the Execution of your Duty of Speaker
of the House of Commons; being satisfied of your
Integrity, of your Zeal for Her Service, of your firm
Adherence to the true Interest of your Country, and
of your faithful Performance of the Public Trusts
which have been committed to your Care."

Then Her Majesty was pleased to say as follows:

Queen's Speech.

"My Lords, and Gentlemen,

I have been very desirous to meet you as early as I
thought you might be called together, without Inconvenience to yourselves.

"And it is with much Satisfaction I observe so full an
Appearance at the Opening of the Parliament; because it is a Ground for Me to conclude, you are all
convinced of the Necessity of prosecuting the just
War, in which we are engaged; and therefore are
truly sensible, that'tis of the greatest Importance to us
to be timely in our Preparations.

"Nothing can be more evident, than that, if the
French King continues Master of the Spanish Monarchy, the Balance of Power in Europe is utterly
destroyed; and He will be able in a short Time to engross the Trade, and the Wealth, of the World.

"No good Englishman could at any Time be content
to sit still, and acquiesce in such a Prospect; and at
this Time we have great Grounds to hope, that, by
the Blessing of God upon our Arms, and those of
our Allies, a good Foundation is laid for restoring
the Monarchy of Spain to the House of Austria; the
Consequences of which will not only be safe and
advantageous, but glorious, for England.

"I may add, we have learnt by our own Experience, that no Peace with France will last longer, than
the First Opportunity of their dividing the Allies, and
of attacking some of them with Advantage.

"All our Allies must needs be so sensible this is the
true State of the Case, that I make no doubt but
Measures will soon be so concerted, as that, if we be
not wanting to ourselves, we shall see the next Campaign begin offensively on all Sides against our Enemies, in a most vigorous Manner.

"I must therefore desire you, Gentlemen of the House
of Commons, to grant Me the Supplies, which will
be requisite for carrying on the next Year's Service
both by Sea and Land; and at the same Time to consider, that the giving all possible Dispatch will make
the Supply itself much more effectual.

"The Firmness and Conduct which the Duke of
Savoy has shewn, amidst extreme Difficulties, is beyond Example.

"I have not been wanting, to do all that was possible
for Me, in order to his being supported.

"I ought to take Notice to you, that the King of
Prussia's Troops have been very useful to this End.
Your Approbation of that Treaty last Sessions, and
the Encouragement you gave upon it, leave Me no
Doubt of being able to renew it for another Year.

"I take this Occasion to assure you, that not only
whatever shall be granted by Parliament, for bearing
the Charge of the War, shall be laid out for that
Purpose, with the greatest Faithfulness and Management; but that I will continue to add, out of My own
Revenue, all I can reasonably spare beyond the necessary Expences for the Honour of the Government.

"My Lords, and Gentlemen,

"By an Act of Parliament, passed the last Winter, I
was enabled to appoint Commissioners for this Kingdom, to treat with Commissioners, to be empowered
by Authority of Parliament in Scotland, concerning
a nearer and more complete Union between the Two
Kingdoms, as soon as an Act shall be made there for
that Purpose: I think it proper for Me to acquaint
you, that such an Act is lately passed there; and I
intend, in a short Time, to cause Commissions to be
made out, in order to put the Treaty on Foot; which
I heartily desire may prove successful; because I am
persuaded that an Union of the Two Kingdoms
will not only prevent many Inconveniencies, which may
otherwise happen, but must conduce to the Peace and
Happiness of both Nations; and therefore, I hope, I
shall have your Assistance in bringing this great Work
to a good Conclusion.

"There is another Union I think Myself obliged to
recommend to you in the most earnest and affectionate Manner; I mean, an Union of Minds and Affections amongst ourselves: It is that, which would, above
all Things, disappoint and defeat the Hopes and Designs of our Enemies.

"I cannot but with Grief observe, there are some
amongst us, who endeavour to foment Animosities;
but, I persuade Myself, they will be found to be very
few, when you appear to assist Me in discountenancing
and defeating such Practices.

"I mention this with a little more Warmth, because
there have not been wanting some, so very malicious,
as even in Print to suggest, the Church of England, as
by Law established, to be in Danger at this Time.

"I am willing to hope, not One of My Subjects can
really entertain a Doubt of My Affection to the
Church, or so much as suspect, that it will not be My
chief Care to support it, and leave it secure after
Me; and therefore we may be certain, that they, who
go about to insinuate Things of this Nature, must be
Mine and the Kingdom's Enemies, and can only mean
to cover Designs, which they dare not publicly own,
by endeavouring to distract us with unreasonable and
groundless Distrusts and Jealousies.

"I must be so plain, as to tell you, the best Proofs we
can all give, at present, of our Zeal for the Preservation
of the Church, will be, to join heartily in prosecuting
the War against an Enemy, who is certainly engaged
to extirpate our Religion, as well as to reduce this
Kingdom to Slavery.

"I am fully resolved, by God's Assistance, to do
My Part.

"I will always affectionately support and countenance
the Church of England, as by Law established.

"I will inviolably maintain the Toleration.

"I will do all I can, to prevail with My Subjects to
lay aside their Divisions; and will study to make them
all safe, and easy.

"I will endeavour to promote Religion and Virtue
amongst them, and to encourage Trade, and every
Thing else, that may make them a flourishing and
happy People.

"And they who shall concur zealously with Me, in
carrying on these good Designs, shall be sure to find
My Kindness and Favour."

Then Her Majesty was pleased to withdraw; and the
Commons went to their House.

Receivers and Triers of Petitions.

Ordered, That the Names of the Receivers and
Triers of Petitions be entered, according to ancient Custom.

Their Lordships, or any Seven of them; to meet
on Monday next, at Ten a Clock in the Forenoon, in the Prince's Lodgings near the House
of Peers; and to adjourn as they please.

Committee for the Journal.

Lords Sub-committees appointed to consider of the
Orders and Customs of the House, and Privileges
of the Peers of this Kingdom and Lords of Parliament; and to peruse and perfect the Journals of
the last Parliament, and also the Journal of this
Parliament.

Their Lordships, or any Three of them; to meet
when, where, and as often as, they please.

Queen's Speech:

Then Her Majesty's Speech was read by the Lord
Keeper, and afterwards by the Clerk.

Committee to draw an Address upon it.

Whereupon it is Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual
and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the humble Thanks of this House be given to Her Majesty, for
Her most Gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament.

Lords Committees appointed to draw an Address of
humble Thanks to be presented to Her Majesty, for
Her most Gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament; and to report to the House.